Don't let the name fool you.  The trio is actually a six piece band featuring alto sax, drums, bass, and piano, and jazz fans will enjoy the traditional sounds.

"For purposes of this, we're playing mostly straight ahead traditional jazz just because it's easier when you have more people involved because it's jazz.  There's a repertoire and a certain amount of tunes that everyone knows," says Dane Bays, alto saxophonist.

There are also original songs written by Dane himself.

Inspired by people and personal experiences, the group hopes to open people's eyes and ears to a music that's sometimes not fully appreciated.

Dane says, "Well I just want them to hear what we're trying to do to make it authentic so that you can actually have a feeling of what authentic jazz feels like because it is a live art form and for most people, it's not a popular art form.  But for most people it's far more impressive live than it is recorded."

Although the band may play locally only a couple times a month, fans can still enjoy their music on their soon-to-be-released CD.

"Well it looks like it's coming out in March.  It's called The American Music Project.  It's a collaborative effort.  It's not straight ahead jazz for instance; there's rap and R&B vocals on that," Bays said.

The Dane Bays Trio will hit the stage this Friday at 9 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Marquette.